Photoshop Ninja
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Is Adobe too quick with releases these days?
An exciting time for Photoshop users as new features get introduced, or simply not enough to justify every upgrade – what do you think?
It’s not long ago that Photoshop CS4 (along with the rest of the Adobe ‘Creative Suite’) got released. It seems to be only 5 minutes since we got all excited about CS3! Is it just me, or are releases coming out quicker these days?!
I have been a Photoshop user since V2.54 (before layers, eeek… that makes me feel old!) and have obviously seen a-lot of different versions, but they do seem to be coming quicker over the last few versions.
On one hand it’s great to see Adobe working so hard on new features. Also, it’s not just new stuff, but code/speed improvements that get rolled out too don’t forget…
However, there haven’t been any real ‘wow’ moments like the introduction of layer masks, vector shape layers or the healing brush in the last couple of versions for me personally.
Also, as a freelancer I work in different studios and sometimes have to work with older versions because they can afford to upgrade their licences. I understand these design studios make their living from this software, but I’m starting to hear again and again that many studios skip a version and upgrade on the next (eg CS2 to CS4). At least this way you get more bangs for your bucks!
I also feel a little sorry for schools, colleges and universities. I lecture part-time at a local college in graphic design. Although they do get a very decent educational discount, it’s nigh-on impossible for educational institutions such as these to keep up with the upgrade cycle. The college I work at must have around 100 Macs (which cost a fortune in the first place), along with the initial relevant design software. They now have the daunting task of keeping up with the upgrade cycle to ensure they are training students on the latest software.
With an inability to cross-grade between Windows and Mac versions, around an 18 month upgrade cycle and if you fall more than 2 versions behind you are unable to upgrade, I begin to wonder if Adobe are pricing themselves out of their own upgrade cycle that they would dearly like us to buy into… credit crunch bahh – I’m thinking this is more like upgrade crunch!!
I would be very interested to know what readers think – why not leave a comment below?
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Written by Jonny Allbut - freelance graphic designer
Last modified: 22 April, 2009 (14:59) | First published: 29 January, 2009
Filed under Design opinions and rumors 10 Comments »
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January 29, 2009 @ 3:33 pm
[...] about Mac Rumors as of January 29, 2009 Is Adobe too quick with releases these days? – photoshopninja.com 01/29/2009 An exciting time for Photoshop users as new features get [...]
Comment by Dave
February 9, 2009 @ 3:03 pm
I agree – man those updates seem to come fast these days!!
Comment by Karen
February 13, 2009 @ 9:19 pm
I find that keeping up with the Mac upgrades and the Adobe upgrade frustrating: if I upgrade one, then I have to upgrade the other. This is the same as built in obsolescence, as far as I’m concerned. It keeps people in a vicious buying cycle, and lines the coffers of the company shareholders. Our landfills will soon be buried under “old” Adobe discs, manuals and books, never mind the rest of the garbage. It’s equally sad that education systems have to pay for their computers and software. Students are ripe for the plucking: start them on a Mac, and they usually stay with a Mac. Usury comes in many forms.
Comment by Photoshop Ninja
February 17, 2009 @ 10:26 am
Karen – I couldn’t agree more! I totally agree that it is a sad situation that educational institutions have to pay so much for their Macs and then are locked into an upgrade cycle… although I do have to say that the Adobe educational licensing is VERY reasonably priced – like around 80odd percent off normal retail price which isn’t bad and is certainly a move in the right direction for Adobe.
Comment by Chris
February 17, 2009 @ 9:05 pm
I’m definitely not sold on it yet, especially for the price. It feels like it is going to be more like a CS3.5 than a CS4.
Comment by Photoshop Ninja
February 22, 2009 @ 10:24 pm
Too true Chris from what I’ve seem also.
Comment by Fate
March 23, 2009 @ 12:15 pm
Totally agree! What makes it worse is when they stop updating previous versions, so I can’t even use my CS3 with the 5D Mark II raw files without the annoyance of having to convert them first… who has the time?
Comment by Daniel
September 22, 2009 @ 9:34 am
I’m still on CS2, and probably will have to skip to CS5 by the time we upgrade everything to Intel Macs.
At the end of the day, it’s a tool to get the job done. “The lesser the tool, the better the craftsman.”
Comment by Photoshop Ninja
October 5, 2009 @ 2:00 pm
Absolutely! I would be careful of your update cycle there Daniel – I think Adobe only allow you to skip one version – ie if you are running CS2 I think your last chance to upgrade is CS4 – you wouldn’t be able to straight upgrade to CS5 to the best of my knowledge.
Comment by Dario
October 16, 2009 @ 1:07 am
It would also build up more excitement for Adobe users if more time was given between upgrades. I can understand that they probably want to upgrade increments at a time to let users adapt more easily, but it’d be even BETTER for users to start up a new version of Adobe Software and find many more new goodies all bundled up ready for you to dive in and embrace them all